Kilkenny turn on the Power in the second half to beat Galway

Kilkenny 1-16

Galway 0-15

KILKENNY ARE THROUGH to their 10th Allianz National Hurling League final in 15 years after a four point win over Galway in the Gaelic Grounds this afternoon.

Brian Cody’s men didn’t have it all their own way though as Galway finished the first half much the stronger of the two sides to take a five point lead into the break.

The game started with a spate of wides — two for Galway, one from Kilkenny — before Michael Fennelly finally opened the scoring for the Cats after a bursting run.

The sides looked evenly matched on 17 minutes when Henry Shefflin made it five points apiece but it was Galway who really kicked on, scoring six of the last seven points in the first half to take a five point lead into half-time; 0-11 to 0-6.

However, Kilkenny were level within 10 minutes of the restart thanks to points from TJ Reid, Fennelly and Shefflin and re-took the lead the first time since the sixth minute when Colin Fennelly pointed in the 50th.

The game’s big turning point came three minutes later when John Power raised the green flag for Kilkenny. Eoin Murphy came out from goal to hit a long free in the direction of the Cats’ attack and it was Power who got the vital touch to strike the ball into the net making it 1-14 to 0-12 with 17 minutes to go.

Galway got within two points with five minutes to go but, despite a late Conor Cooney 20m free being stopped on the line, they couldn’t close the gap and Kilkenny are through to a remarkable 10th league final under Brian Cody.

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-5 (4f), H Shefflin 0-4, J Power 1-0, C Fennelly 0-3, P Walsh 0-2, C Buckley and M Fennelly 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: C Cooney 0-8 (3f, 1 ’65′), A Smith 0-2, C Callanan 0-1 (1f), N Burke, J Canning, C Mannion and D Burke 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy; Paul Murphy, JJ Delaney, Brian Kennedy; Padraig Walsh, Brian Hogan, Cillian Buckley; Michael Fennelly, Richie Hogan; Walter Walsh, Colin Fennelly, TJ Reid; John Power, Mark Kelly, Henry Shefflin.

Subs: Lester Ryan for Walter Walsh (54), Aidan Fogarty for Hogan (64), Jonjo Farrell for Colin Fennelly (69).

GALWAY: Colm Callanan; David Collins, Ronan Burke, Johnny Coen; Aidan Harte, Daithi Burke, Joseph Cooney; Andy Smith, Padraig Brehony; Niall Burke, Conor Cooney, David Burke; Joe Canning, Jonathan Glynn, Cathal Mannion.

Subs: Davy Glennon for Niall Burke (45), Damien Hayes for Brehony (54), Kevin Hynes for Smith (60), Jason Flynn for Mannion (68).

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).